Retractable flatiron supporting mechanism



y 5, 1953 1G. BROWNING 2,637,127

RETRACTABLE FLATIRON SUPPORTING MECHANISM Filed May 27, 1947 FlG l 2 SHEET$-SHEET l FIGZ ATTORNEY S.

May 5, 1953 G. BROWNING RETRACTABLE FLATIRON SUPPORTING MECHANISM 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed May 27. 1947 .F IG .3

INVENTQR. 3

ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 5, 1953 RETRACTABLE FLATIRON SUPPORTING MECHANISM George Browning, Wilmette, Ill., assignor to Sunbeam Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 27, 1947, Serial No. 750,817 15' Claims. (01. six-79 This invention relates to mechanisms for supporting a fiatiron awayirom a work-holding surface, such as an ironing board, whenever the iron is not in use.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple device of this character which avoids the use of complicated and expensive latching mechanisms and finger operated con trols.

Another object is to provide a fiatiron supporting mechanism characterised by the provision of supporting means actuated in response to normal operating movements of the fiatiron rather than by the manipulation of finger controls. In fur therance thereof the supporting means is automatically actuated tea supporting position by the act of placing the flatiron on an ironing board or other support and is automatically retracted by the act of lifting the flatiron from such supported position or of moving it forwardly therefrom as in the ironing strole. I I

A specific object is to provide a device of the character set forth which is operable to support ing position merelyby engaging the heel rest end of the flatiron against theironing board by the act of placing the flatiron on the boarder by tipping the iron slightly backward with theheel rest end engaging the board, this being effective to automatically move the supporting means to extended or supporting position; and which is op erable by merely lifting the iron from the ironing board to automatically move the supporting means back to retracted position whereby the iron is ready for use without any thought or special aetion on the part of the user.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description in connection with the drawings, in which- Figure l is a side view of a fiatiro'n made in accordance with the present invention showing one of thelevers in retracted position; I

Figure 2 is a side View of the same flatiron in the raised position with the sole plate completely out of contact with the work-holding surface;

Figure 3 as partial top View of the flatiron with the handle, cover, and supporting levers remov'edj Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

' Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary partially cut-away side View of the actuating mechanism inbo'th retracted and suppor in positions;

,Figure s 6 and '7 are enlarged top and side views of one of the supporting levers; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view showing a modification of the invention,

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the fiatiron comprises a body generally designated I having a sole plate 2 and cover 3 and having the usual insulating handle 5.

In the present instance, the sole plate 2 is a composite of upper and lower plates 6 and '1 (Figure 4;) fastened together by means not shown and having the heating element 8 interposed therebetween. Electrical leads 9, in insulators l I, are provided for the heating element 8 in the usual manner. Suitable electrical connections, also not shown, will be employed to energize the element 8 and to heat the bottom of the sole plate. At the rear of the sole plate an L-shaped bracket I2 is mountedby screws l3.- On the upstanding leg of this bracket is a U-shaped actuating member M pivoted on pins 16 having its base I! overhanging the rear end of the sole plate and having its side legs l8 each constituting a lever with a bifurcated end portion each terminating in an open ended slot 19.

It will be noted that, as is customary in irons of this type, the sides 2| of thecover are formed to curve upwardly and inwardly from the sides of the sole plate (see Figure l). This imposes a special problem in transmitting motion simply from the actuator E4 to the supporting levers 22 which are movable in different p1anes.- This connection is made in a very simple manner by the means now to be described. Oblique, U-shaped brackets 23 are positioned inside the cover 3; as by spot welding on the sole plate top member 7. The bracket upstanding portions 24 and 25 are positioned obliquely in this manner so as to be substantially parallel to the cover sides 2 l. Holes 26 in the brackets and holes 2? in the cover sides are formed suitably aligned so the pivot bolts 23 will be substantially normally posi= tioned with respect to the cover sides so the supporting lever 22 may be positioned as closely as possible to the outside of the cover without interfering therewith when moved.

An apertured plate 29 is rigidly attached to a shim 3 l, on each side of the iron, which in turn is rigidly attached to each of the bolts 23 respec tively. The shim 3i spaces the plate 29 from the leg 25 to provide clearance between the plate and the outer bracket leg 25. The underside of the shim forms a bearing surface abutting against the outer side of theleg 25. The rear end of each of the pivot plates 25 carries an inwardly extend ing portion 32 engageable within the actuator end slots I9. The supporting levers 22 secured to the plate '29 as by screws 42 threaded into recess is formed in the plate 29, may be curved backward to match the contour of the cover, as

shown in Figure 6. As shown the screws 42 are in axial alinement with the bolts 28. Each supporting lever 22 is provided with an inwardly extending bushing 33 which may be welded thereto, and which carries a pair of axial diametrically spaced extensions 34 which fit in the holes 36 in the plates 29 so the supporting levers 22 and plates 29 may be positively positioned with respect to one another.

It will be seen that a very simple yet highly dependable operative connection is thus provided between the actuator l4 which pivots about a substantially horizontal axis and the supporting levers 22 which pivot about bolts 28 which, in the present instance, are shown as positioned at about 30 from the horizontal.

In operation, downward movement of the slotted ends of the actuator M will move the rear end portions of the plates 29 downward (or clockwise viewed in Figure and due to the above-mentioned difference in angularity the inward extensions 32 of plates 29 will at the same time be moved transversely outward with respect to the slotted ends of the actuator 14. This connection between the actuator l4 and plate extensions 32 thereby permits the latter to be driven in two directions at once.

Means will preferably be employed to urge the supporting levers 22 toward their retracted positions (Figure 1) so the iron will be automatically conditioned for use merely by lifting it from its supported (Figure 2) position. Such means is shown in the present instance as comprising a combination of: weights 38 mounted on the forward ends of plates 29 to urge the plates in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 5) and the weights 3'! comprising a sheetmetal member mounted by screws 39 to the overhanging portion of the actuator to urge the latter in the clockwise direction. In certain cases, either of these weights may be satisfactorily used alone; and I have also found that spring means will be equally satisfactory for this purpose. The latter construction is shown in Fig. 8. In this embodiment of the invention the spring 46, in the form of a leaf spring, acts bet een a bracket 4? at the rear of the sole plate 59 and a cross member 5|, rigid y secured to the spaced legs 52 of the actuator 53. constructed as descr bed for the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-7. As sho n herein the upper end of the spring 46 is secured to the upstanding portion of the bracket 41 as by rivets and the lo er end of t e spring r sts freely on the top of the cross member 5!. With this construction the spring is biased so that the actuator is urged in a clockwise direction about its pivot axis in the same manner as effected by the weights in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-7. It is to be understood that other forms of springs may be used where desired.

When it is desired to lift the iron from the ironing position and support it in a non-ironing position, or discontinue use of the iron temporarily without necessarily shutting off the heating current, the user will tilt the iron slightly upward and backward on the rear edge 4| of the actuator I4. This will deflect the actuator slotted end portions downward and rotate the supporting levers 22 to the position shown in Figure 2, beneath the sole plate bottom surface 45. The entire sole plate will then be held up free of the working surface 43 without any danger of burning the latter. The iron will thus be supported at three points necessary for stability, these points being on the bottoms of the sup- 4 porting levers 22 and on the end of the actuator at 4 I.

When it is desired to continue the use of the iron, the iron is simply lifted by the user to release the weight of the iron on the actuator, thereby permitting the weights 3'! and 39 (or spring means, if spring means are employed instead of weights) to move the parts to their retracted positions.

Thus, it will be seen that the present invention provides a supporting mechanism for flatirons wherein the user has only to tilt the iron slightly backward to lift it free from the working surface and to hold the iron in that position until continued use is desired. Moreover, when it is desired to again use the iron, it is only necessary to lift it slightly or tilt it sufficiently to free the actuator l4 from contact with the cloth or board. This may be accomplished by a natural forward movement of the iron as when starting to iron. This permits automatic return of the levers 22 to the retracted position shown in Figure 1. No latching or unlatching operations on the part of the user are required as conventionally employed in prior devices of this character. My invention, therefore, provides a new high level of customer convenience as well as economy in comparison with prior relatively expensive manual latching mechanisms. Furthermore, it will be seen that the present invention, which provides for supporting the iron in only a slightly tilted position, is particularly applicable to advantage in certain types of steam irons where the entire iron cannot be placed in a vertical position due to problems peculiar to steam irons, such as retaining water in the water reservoir.

While a particular form of the present invention has been shown, it will be apparent that changes therein will readily suggest themselves to others skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a flatiron, the combination of supporting means associated with the flatiron and movable with relation thereto between a position for supporting the flatiron with its sole plate removed from the ironing position and a retracted position, and actuator means associated with the flatiron and movable into engagement with the surface on which the flatiron is adapted to rest, such engagement being effected by bodily movement of the flatiron. said actuator means coacting with the supporting means to automatically cause the supporting means to be returned to the retracted position when the flatiron is bodily moved to withdraw said actuator means from said engagement.

2. In a flatiron, the combination of a pair of supporting levers associated with the flatiron and movable with relation thereto between a position for supporting the flatiron with its sole plate removed from the ironing position and a retracted position, and an actuator member associated with the flatiron at the heel end thereof and movable into engagement with the surface on which the flatiron is adapted to rest, such engagement being effected by bodilyrmovement of the flatiron, said actuator member coacting with the supporting levers to automatically cause the supporting levers to be returned to the retracted position when the flatiron is bodily moved to withdraw said actuator member from said engagement.

3. In a flatiron, the combination or atleast one supporting'lever associated with the fiatiron forward of its heel end and movable with relation thereto between a positionfor supporting the flatiron with its sole plate removed from the ironing position and a retracted position, and an actuator member associated with the fla-tiron at the heel end thereof and movable into engagement with the surface on which the flatiron is adapted to rest, such engagement being effected by bodily movement of the flatiron and such engagement being maintained while the fiatiron is in a position with its sole plate supported above said surface, the flatiron being so supported by means of said lever and said actuator member, said actuator member coactingwith the support= ing lever to automatically cause the supporting lever to be returned to the retracted position when the flatiron is bodily moved to withdraw said actuator member from said engagement l. In a flatiron having a body and a handle, the combination of at least one lever pivotally supported on the body and movable between a retracted position and supporting position to support the iron in a raised position, and a deflectable member carried by the body operably associated with the lever to move the latter to its supporting position when said member is deflected. I I

5. In a fiatiroii having a body and a handle,

the combination of at least one lever pivotau supported on the body and movable between a retracted position and a supporting position to support the iron in a raised position, said body carrying a deflectable member operably connected to said lever to move the latter to its supporting position when pressure is applied to the deflectable member, and means for urging said lever to its retracted position when the pressure on the deflectable member is released.

6. In a fiatiron having a body and a handle, the combination of at least one supporting member pivotally mounted on said body and pivotally movable between retracted and supporting positions which are respectively flush or above and below the bottom surface of the iron, an actuating member carried by said body at the rear thereof, said actuator operatively associated with said supporting member to move the latter to its supporting position in response to the tipping of said iron backward upon a work-holding surface to apply upward pressure to said actuating member. whereby the iron inav be supported on said member to maintain the bottom surface of the iron above and out of contact with the ironing board or other work-holding surface.

'7. In a fiatiron having a body and a handle, the combination of a pair of supporting members pivotally mounted on said body and pivotally movable between retracted and supporting positions which are respectively above and below the bottom surface of the iron, an actuating member carried by said body at the rear thereof, said actuator operatively assoc ated with said supporting members to move the latter to their supporting positions in response to the tipping of said iron backward upon a work-holding surface to apply upward pressure to said actuating member, whereby the iron may be supported on the three members to maintain the bottom surface of the iron above and out of contact with the ironing board or other work-holding surface, and means effective to urge said supporting members to their retracted positions in response to the release of upward pressure on the actuating member when the iron is lifted fromits'supported pdsition on the work holding surface.-

8. In a fiatiron having a body and a handle, at least one pivotally movable support carried by said body and movable between a retracted position above the bottom of the iron sole plate and supporting position below the sole plate bottom for holding the latter spaced above an ironing board or other work-holding surface, an actuat ing lever member pivoted on said body and overhanging the rear end of the sole plate, said lever member being operatively connected to said support to move it to its said-supporting position when said iron is tipped back to deflect said actuating lever by pressure applied to the work-" holding surface, and means for urging said sup port back to its retracted position when the flatiron is brought into an ironing position.

9. In a fiatironhaving a body'with a sole plate, a cover mounted on said sole plate, and a handle, the sides of said cover sloping diagonally inwardly and upwardly from the sides of said sole plate to effect a streamline appearance, mechanism for supporting said fiatiron above a Work-holding surface with the sole plate spaced therefrom comprising the comb nation of a bracket supported inside said cover on each side thereof, a support-- ing lever mounted outsidethe cover on each side and carried by a member pivotally engaging each of said brackets, each member having a pivotal axis substantially normal to said cover and extending therethrough, each of said pivotal members having a transverse extension pivotably movable with said supporting levers, an actuator pivoted on said body having one end overhanging the rear end of the sole plate and at the opposite end having a pair of bifurcated members engaging respectively the extensions on said pivotal members, whereby upward deflection of said overhanging actuator end moves said pivotal members to carry said supporting levers to their supporting positions, the movement of the parts in response to said upward deflection of said overhanging actuator end being accompanied by outward transverse movement of the extension on said pivotal members with res ect to said bifurcated members, and means for urging said pivotal members in a direction to move said support n' levers to their retracted positions.

10. The combination recited in claim 9 in which the last mentioned means comprises weights.

11, The combination recited in claim 5 in which the last mentioned means includes a spring.

12. The combination recited in claim 5 in which the last mentioned means includes at least one weight.

13. In a fiatiron having a body and a handle, at least one pivotally mounted support carried by said body and movable between a retracted position above the bottom of the iron sole plate and a supporting position below the sole plate bottom for holding the latter spaced above an ironing board or other work-holding surface, an actuator pivoted on said body and being operatively connected to said support to move it to its said supporting position when said iron is tipped back to deflect said actuator by pressure applied to the work-holding surface, and means for urging said support back to its retracted position when the fiatiron is brought into an ironing position.

14. A flatiron comprising an ironing body having a pressing surface operable in a normal horizontal ironing position on a working surface, said body having a forward end and means defining a'heel end, a support located forwardly of said heel end, means pivotally mounting said support on said body for movement about an axis transverse to the iron from an upper retracted position above said pressing surface, downwardly and forwardly about said pivotal mounting to an extended downward position below said pressing surface wherein said support is generally vertical with respect to said pressing surface, whereby said support and said first mentioned means may hold said body in rest position on said work surface with said pressing surface tilted upwardly at the front at a relatively small angle to the horizontal, and a weight connected to said support so positioned that the effective center of gravity of the combined support and weight is located in a predetermined position and in front of a vertical line through the axis of the pivotal mounting by which the support is secured to the body when the iron is in a horizontal position and the support is retracted, said weight holding said support in said retracted position when said iron is in said normal ironing position, and said weight and support being shiftable by tilting the forward end of said body upwardly from said normal position toward said rest position to operate said support to 'said extended position.

15. A fiatiron comprising an ironing body having a pressing 'suface operable in a normal horizontal working position, a plurality of sup- 8 ports all of which are pivoted to said body on axes transverse to said body and movable from retracted positions above said pressing surface downwardly and forwardly to extend positions substantially vertical to and below said pressing surface for holding said body with said pressing surface in a rest position which is removed from its working position with respect to a work surface, and biasing means connected to said supports rendered operative to move them to extended position by tilting said body in one direction about an axis transverse to the ironing body, said biasing means including a counterweight so positioned that the effective center of gravity of the combined supports and counterweight is located in a predetermined position and close to a vertical line through the pivots between the supports and the body when the iron is in its working position, whereby said supports are retracted by relative movement between said supports and said work surface effected by forward movement of said body on said work surface.

GEORGE BROWNING.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,422,505 Tangeman et a1. June 17. 1947 2,501,549 Swenson Mar. 21, 1950 

